Artificial Islands: Adventures in the Dominions

The idea of the CANZUK Union, a trans-oceanic super-state of the British Empire's white-majority Dominions, is explored in the documentary Artificial Islands. It examines the histories, townscapes, and spaces of several cities across the settler zones of the British Empire to question whether these places are merely reproductions of British Values or if people in Auckland, Melbourne, Montreal, Ottawa, and Wellington are re-imagining their own history and their countries' role in the British Empire.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 345 pages
Publication date: 09 August 2022
Publisher: Watkins Media Limited

After years of bitter argument and divisive posturing, Great Britain has just left one Union. But what if the island's future lies in another Union altogether, with some of its former colonial "kith and kin" across the seas? Why be in a Union with your immediate neighbors, when you could instead be in a trans-oceanic super-state with your old friends in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? Welcome to the strange world of the CANZUK Union, the name for a quixotic but apparently serious plan to reunify the white-majority Dominions of the British Empire under the flag of low taxes, strong borders, and climate change denialism.

Artificial Islands tests the idea that Britain's natural allies and closest relations are in these three countries in North America and the Antipodes, through a good look at the histories, townscapes, and spaces of several cities across the settler zones of the British Empire. These are some of the most purely artificial and modern landscapes in the world, British-designed cities that were built with extreme rapidity in forcibly seized territories on the other side of the world from Britain. Were these places really no more than just a reproduction of British Values planted in unlikely corners of the globe? How are people in Auckland, Melbourne, Montreal, Ottawa, and Wellington re-imagining their own history, or their countries' role in the British Empire, and their complicity in its crimes? And do they have any interest in a union with us?

The idea of the CANZUK Union has gained traction in recent years, with some supporters arguing that it would be a powerful economic and political force in the world. The four countries share a common language, culture, and history, and a shared commitment to free trade, liberal democracy, and human rights. The Union would also give Britain a strategic advantage in the global economy, as it would be able to access the markets of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which are among the largest in the world.

However, there are also critics of the idea, who argue that it would be a retrograde step for Britain to return to its colonial past. Some critics argue that the Union would be dominated by the interests of the United Kingdom world, and that it would undermine the independence and sovereignty of the four countries. Others argue that the Union would be difficult to negotiate and that it would be unlikely to be approved by the populations of all four countries.

Despite these criticisms, the idea of the CANZUK Union continues to gain support among some political and business leaders in the four countries. In recent years, there have been several high-profile events and initiatives aimed at promoting the Union, including the launch of the CANZUK International Institute and the publication of the CANZUK Blueprint, which sets out a vision for the Union's future.

In conclusion, the idea of the CANZUK Union is a fascinating and controversial one. While some supporters argue that it would be a powerful economic and political force in the world, others argue that it would be a retrograde step for Britain to return to its colonial past. The Union would give Britain a strategic advantage in the global economy, but it would also be difficult to negotiate and would likely be opposed by some populations. Despite these criticisms, the idea of the CANZUK Union continues to gain support among some political and business leaders in the four countries, and it remains a topic of debate and discussion in the global political arena.

Weight: 416g
Dimension: 131 x 196 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781914420863
Edition number: New ed